Tularosa village employees earn $1 per hour raise

Water, sewer and garbage rates also rise as a result

TULAROSA -- Employees of the village will receive an across-the-board raise of $1 per hour.

The Tularosa Board of Trustees voted Wednesday night to approve the pay boost, though it will result in a village-wide hike in water, sewer and garbage rates.

Village Clerk Dianna Brusuelas said the village would enact the utility hikes via ordinance, which should take effect in the coming fiscal year.

Mayor Ray Cordova said village employees had not received an across-the-board pay increase in about four years and asked that the board approve the measure.

The village librarian will receive a separate pay boost, and Cordova had high praise for her efforts, saying the village has "one of the top libraries in the state."

The pay increase also goes to village police officers and dispatchers, but Trustee Patrick Garcia said the village is working on getting police personnel a further raise in an effort to bring the village's pay on par with other police departments in the state.

The board mulled the possibility of giving percentage-based raises rather than the $1 per hour increase, but opted for the latter.

Trustee Joseph Lueras was the only trustee to vote against the measure.

He said some employees have received raises over the years and they would now receive another raise, which he thought was unfair to other employees.

"I don't think it was thought out enough," Lueras said, referring to the measure.

The village has about 38 employees.

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In other business, the monthly meeting in February has been moved to Feb. 13 with the workshop being held the day before.

Contact John Bear at jbear@alamogordonews.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnbearwithme